Nick Garland
@npjgarland.bsky.social
Think tanker, political speechwriter, historian. Staggeringly conventional social democrat.
Pinned
Nick Garland
@npjgarland.bsky.social
· Mar 27
Revisionism as Statecraft: David Marquand, the SDP Split and the Politics of Community
This article addresses a surprisingly neglected aspect of David Marquand's intellectual development: his career as a politician. Hence, it locates his intellectual efforts from the mid-1970s through ....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
It was a massive privilege to take part in a @politicalquarterly.bsky.social symposium on the life & work of David Marquand in January. My article for the forthcoming special issue has now been published.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Nick Garland
This story is all Nigel Farage should be asked about by journalists for months
Ex-leader of Reform UK in Wales sentenced to 10-and-a-half years for taking pro-Russian bribes
The judge tells Nathan Gill his actions were a
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM
This story is all Nigel Farage should be asked about by journalists for months
Reposted by Nick Garland
A pleasure to be at @powertochange.org.uk’s launch of their From The Ground Up essay collection tonight, and an honour to have been asked to contribute.
www.powertochange.org.uk/event/event-...
www.powertochange.org.uk/event/event-...
November 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A pleasure to be at @powertochange.org.uk’s launch of their From The Ground Up essay collection tonight, and an honour to have been asked to contribute.
www.powertochange.org.uk/event/event-...
www.powertochange.org.uk/event/event-...
Reposted by Nick Garland
Happy partially muscled skeleton screaming before vanishing day to all those who celebrate.
November 14, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Happy partially muscled skeleton screaming before vanishing day to all those who celebrate.
Reposted by Nick Garland
You can catch up now on the essays we've published so far - there are some must-read pieces by the likes of @jamestplunkett.bsky.social @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social @npjgarland.bsky.social - but there's more to come next week!
www.powertochange.org.uk/celebrating-...
www.powertochange.org.uk/celebrating-...
Celebrating ten years backing community business - Power to Change
Power to Change turns ten this year. To celebrate a decade backing community business, we are bringing you a programme of events, stories, and essays, celebrating the community business sector, reflec...
www.powertochange.org.uk
November 12, 2025 at 1:43 PM
You can catch up now on the essays we've published so far - there are some must-read pieces by the likes of @jamestplunkett.bsky.social @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social @npjgarland.bsky.social - but there's more to come next week!
www.powertochange.org.uk/celebrating-...
www.powertochange.org.uk/celebrating-...
Reposted by Nick Garland
On Tuesday we launch 'From the ground up: Community business and Britain's next decade' - an essay collection to celebrate 10 yrs of @powertochange.org.uk and look ahead into the future of our communities. Delighted we'll be joined by this excellent panel of guests to share their 2035 vision 👇
⏰ Join our essay collection launch in Westminster to hear leading voices on a decade of community business & what’s next. Chair: @anooshc.bsky.social Panel: @jamestplunkett.bsky.social, @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social, @hetanshah.bsky.social, @patrickhurley.bsky.social & Emily Bolton.✍️👉 buff.ly/pcSxdmp
November 12, 2025 at 1:38 PM
On Tuesday we launch 'From the ground up: Community business and Britain's next decade' - an essay collection to celebrate 10 yrs of @powertochange.org.uk and look ahead into the future of our communities. Delighted we'll be joined by this excellent panel of guests to share their 2035 vision 👇
Reposted by Nick Garland
Happy 80th birthday to Mr. Neil Young.
November 12, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Happy 80th birthday to Mr. Neil Young.
Reposted by Nick Garland
I tried to cover a lot of ground here. A few points developing the argument, regarding current government's "Pride in Place" etc: basically I like this stuff, but worry a bit about lack of realism about what they might achieve in isolation.
📖 @npjgarland.bsky.social pens our next 10-year anniversary essay, exploring the history of past regeneration efforts to help guide today’s public policy, and offering three lessons as the government pursues its new Pride of Place agenda.
Read: http://bit.ly/4qoNpXz #PowerToChange10
Read: http://bit.ly/4qoNpXz #PowerToChange10
October 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I tried to cover a lot of ground here. A few points developing the argument, regarding current government's "Pride in Place" etc: basically I like this stuff, but worry a bit about lack of realism about what they might achieve in isolation.
Reposted by Nick Garland
Great to have Nick writing for us, and putting recent (v positive) announcements in historical context.
And, ultimately, calling for a more expansive communitarianism with a clearer view of political economy - something I hope we @powertochange.org.uk and others can do in the months to come.
And, ultimately, calling for a more expansive communitarianism with a clearer view of political economy - something I hope we @powertochange.org.uk and others can do in the months to come.
I tried to cover a lot of ground here. A few points developing the argument, regarding current government's "Pride in Place" etc: basically I like this stuff, but worry a bit about lack of realism about what they might achieve in isolation.
📖 @npjgarland.bsky.social pens our next 10-year anniversary essay, exploring the history of past regeneration efforts to help guide today’s public policy, and offering three lessons as the government pursues its new Pride of Place agenda.
Read: http://bit.ly/4qoNpXz #PowerToChange10
Read: http://bit.ly/4qoNpXz #PowerToChange10
October 24, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Great to have Nick writing for us, and putting recent (v positive) announcements in historical context.
And, ultimately, calling for a more expansive communitarianism with a clearer view of political economy - something I hope we @powertochange.org.uk and others can do in the months to come.
And, ultimately, calling for a more expansive communitarianism with a clearer view of political economy - something I hope we @powertochange.org.uk and others can do in the months to come.
Reposted by Nick Garland
Good realistic essay by @npjgarland.bsky.social for @powertochange.org.uk. Key bit for me is communities policy being tied into a broader political economy.
October 24, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Good realistic essay by @npjgarland.bsky.social for @powertochange.org.uk. Key bit for me is communities policy being tied into a broader political economy.
I tried to cover a lot of ground here. A few points developing the argument, regarding current government's "Pride in Place" etc: basically I like this stuff, but worry a bit about lack of realism about what they might achieve in isolation.
📖 @npjgarland.bsky.social pens our next 10-year anniversary essay, exploring the history of past regeneration efforts to help guide today’s public policy, and offering three lessons as the government pursues its new Pride of Place agenda.
Read: http://bit.ly/4qoNpXz #PowerToChange10
Read: http://bit.ly/4qoNpXz #PowerToChange10
October 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I tried to cover a lot of ground here. A few points developing the argument, regarding current government's "Pride in Place" etc: basically I like this stuff, but worry a bit about lack of realism about what they might achieve in isolation.
For @powertochange.org.uk I suggested some "lessons from history" on community and public policy, from the late 1960s through to the current government's "Pride in Place".
www.powertochange.org.uk/evidence-and...
www.powertochange.org.uk/evidence-and...
Looking back to move forwards: A historical perspective on community and public policy - Power to Change
This month's essay from Nick Garland explores how past regeneration efforts like the New Deal for Communities offer vital lessons for shaping sustainab ...
www.powertochange.org.uk
October 23, 2025 at 12:33 PM
For @powertochange.org.uk I suggested some "lessons from history" on community and public policy, from the late 1960s through to the current government's "Pride in Place".
www.powertochange.org.uk/evidence-and...
www.powertochange.org.uk/evidence-and...
Reposted by Nick Garland
Tory policy is to revoke permanent residence (ILR) for everybody who does not earn £38k - deporting most nurses who have ILR
This is put in the video as "who is unlikely to contribute more than they cost"
NB: video does not say EU settled status is exempt
No govt since Idi Amin has done this
This is put in the video as "who is unlikely to contribute more than they cost"
NB: video does not say EU settled status is exempt
No govt since Idi Amin has done this
October 21, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Tory policy is to revoke permanent residence (ILR) for everybody who does not earn £38k - deporting most nurses who have ILR
This is put in the video as "who is unlikely to contribute more than they cost"
NB: video does not say EU settled status is exempt
No govt since Idi Amin has done this
This is put in the video as "who is unlikely to contribute more than they cost"
NB: video does not say EU settled status is exempt
No govt since Idi Amin has done this
Reposted by Nick Garland
This is not normal discourse. It is not just a bit of fun for a Sunday paper interview. It is beyond the realms of the concept of decency shared across the political spectrum until last year.
October 19, 2025 at 11:35 AM
This is not normal discourse. It is not just a bit of fun for a Sunday paper interview. It is beyond the realms of the concept of decency shared across the political spectrum until last year.
Reposted by Nick Garland
Apropos of nothing, I really do think UK journalists and politicians need some reminding that mass deportation of LEGAL immigrants, particularly those with permanent status, is far more extreme than even Trump's America and would basically place Britain completely on its own among democracies.
October 19, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Apropos of nothing, I really do think UK journalists and politicians need some reminding that mass deportation of LEGAL immigrants, particularly those with permanent status, is far more extreme than even Trump's America and would basically place Britain completely on its own among democracies.
Reposted by Nick Garland
Jenrick casting 1980s British football hooliganism as something that was easily dealt with by police and not an era defining issue which we're still living with the consequences of today... He's genuinely the most unserious person in British politics rn
October 17, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Jenrick casting 1980s British football hooliganism as something that was easily dealt with by police and not an era defining issue which we're still living with the consequences of today... He's genuinely the most unserious person in British politics rn
A piece which misses the rather important point that Labour in 2025 faces a very different electoral challenge (i.e. a massively fragmented party system) to the Democrats in 2024.
www.ft.com/content/a14b...
www.ft.com/content/a14b...
Starmer must not repeat the Democrats’ mistakes
The American left’s failure to defeat Maga Republicans offers valuable lessons to Labour as it confronts Farage
www.ft.com
October 17, 2025 at 10:03 AM
A piece which misses the rather important point that Labour in 2025 faces a very different electoral challenge (i.e. a massively fragmented party system) to the Democrats in 2024.
www.ft.com/content/a14b...
www.ft.com/content/a14b...
Reposted by Nick Garland
Matty Y doing a bit of UK politics analysis
October 16, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Matty Y doing a bit of UK politics analysis
Enjoying the strength of reaction to a historian of socialist political thought observing that a political leader doesn't care about the history of socialist political thought as much as they should
Something I find striking about Zach Polanski is how - unlike the vast majority of those who played a key role in Corbynism - his politics are so clearly not rooted in any kind of deeper analysis or intellectual tradition. It's all just a surface-level synthesis of 2010s left-wing slogans and memes.
October 16, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Enjoying the strength of reaction to a historian of socialist political thought observing that a political leader doesn't care about the history of socialist political thought as much as they should
Reposted by Nick Garland
Delighted to see my article exploring how Britons planned for retirement in the mid-to-late 20th century out in the world! It tries to capture the mixed feelings prompted by ageing & retirement whilst connecting those themes to wider histories of social democracy, selfhood & financialisation.
New article (OA): Helen McCarthy @historianhelen.bsky.social on 'Planning for Retirement in Post-war Britain'
academic.oup.com/ehr/advance-...
academic.oup.com/ehr/advance-...
Planning for Retirement in Post-war Britain*
Abstract. This article explores how Britons envisaged and planned for the end of working life across the second half of the twentieth century. It shows how
academic.oup.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Delighted to see my article exploring how Britons planned for retirement in the mid-to-late 20th century out in the world! It tries to capture the mixed feelings prompted by ageing & retirement whilst connecting those themes to wider histories of social democracy, selfhood & financialisation.
Reposted by Nick Garland
Good morning, somehow this has only just come up on my instagram but it’s well worth 30 seconds of your time.
October 13, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Good morning, somehow this has only just come up on my instagram but it’s well worth 30 seconds of your time.
Reposted by Nick Garland
When people ask me what I think about using AI in writing I’m going to send them this screenshot
October 12, 2025 at 1:28 PM
When people ask me what I think about using AI in writing I’m going to send them this screenshot
Reposted by Nick Garland
thiel, man, what the fuck are you talking about
October 12, 2025 at 12:05 PM
thiel, man, what the fuck are you talking about
Some thought-provoking reflections here
What did we learn at Labour conference? Four members of the Renewal editorial team offer their reflections:
- @morganj0nes.bsky.social on Starmer vs Burnham
- @dmk1793.bsky.social on the Mair-ian void
- @parth0.bsky.social on Labour's nationalism
- @ben-glover.bsky.social on 'Big tent Starmerism'
- @morganj0nes.bsky.social on Starmer vs Burnham
- @dmk1793.bsky.social on the Mair-ian void
- @parth0.bsky.social on Labour's nationalism
- @ben-glover.bsky.social on 'Big tent Starmerism'
What did we learn at Labour Party conference?
Ten days on from the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool, four members of the Renewal editorial team who attended offer their reflections on the events of the week.
A stay of execution
Th...
renewal.org.uk
October 11, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Some thought-provoking reflections here
Reposted by Nick Garland
Right, that's it. I'm founding a new populist party of the centre called Go Outside!
The UK is “madly left, madly liberal, hyper-progressive”, Syed says. This is a deeply odd speech, seemingly from yet another person who spends a lot of time on X.
[I deleted earlier post which had the typo of saying, 'US' rather than 'UK'.]
[I deleted earlier post which had the typo of saying, 'US' rather than 'UK'.]
October 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Right, that's it. I'm founding a new populist party of the centre called Go Outside!
Reposted by Nick Garland
An admirably clear statement from Board of Deputies of British Jews and Jewish Leadership Council
October 4, 2025 at 9:00 PM
An admirably clear statement from Board of Deputies of British Jews and Jewish Leadership Council